Electrical connector clip device

ABSTRACT

AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR CLIP DEVICE INCLUDING A PAIR OF FINGER MEMBERS HAVING OPPOSED CLAMPING JAWS MOUNTED FOR MOVEMENT WITH RESPECT TO ONE ANOTHER. A PLURALITY OF CONDUCTOR ELEMENTS CARRIED BY EACH OF THE FINGER MEMBERS TO ELECTRICALLY ENGAGE AN ELECTRICAL COMPONENT AT ONE END AND/OR TO ELECTRICALLY ENGAGE AN ELECTRICAL TEST UNIT AT THE OTHER END, AND A RESILIENT ELEMENT COACTING BETWEEN THE FINGER MEMBERS FOR RESILIENTLY URGING THE SAME TOWARD ONE ANOTHER.

July 2, 1974 J. T. VENALECK E ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR CLIP DEVICE 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Dec. 2 1967 FIG.4

INVENTORS VENALECK By ROBERT J. GABOR JM Jm ATTORNEYS y 2, 1974 J. T.VENALECK ETA!- 28, 54

ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR CLIP DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Dec.29, 196'? FIG. 7

mm F INVENTORS K CR 0 8 A G E T T m N m R J ATTORNEYS United StatesPatent Oflice Re. 28,064 Reissued July 2, 1974 28,064 ELECTRICALCONNECTOR CLIP DEVICE John T. Venaleck, 6273 Melsllore Drive, and RobertJ.

figs, 6281 Melshore Drive, both of Mentor, Ohio Original No. 3,506,949,dated Apr. 14, 1970, Ser. No.

694,694, Dec. 29, 1967. Application for reissue Apr.

13, 1972, Ser. No. 243,589

Int. Cl. Hlr 11/22, 23/10 US. Cl. 339-174 21 Claims Matter enclosed inheavy brackets I: 1 appears in the original patent but forms no part ofthis reissue specification; matter printed in italics indicates theadditions made by reissue.

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An electrical connector clip device includinga pair of finger members having opposed clamping jaws mounted formovement with respect to one another. A plurality of conductor elementscarried by each of the finger members to electrically engage anelectrical component at one end and/or to electrically engage anelectrical test unit at the other end, and a resilient element coactingbetween the finger members for resiliently urging the same toward oneanother.

Background of the invention This invention relates to electricalconnectors, and more particularly relates to an electrical connectorclip device for application with multiple terminal electrical and/orelectronic components for use with test equipment. The present inventionhas particular though not exclusive application for interconnection withthe input/output leads of an electrical component, such as an integratedcircuit for the purpose of attaching test equipment to the leads in thedual-in-line package having multiple, such as 14 or 16, leads. However,the invention lends itself for use with any number and/ or arrangementof leads in any electrical and/or electronic package.

Heretofore, the testing of various types of electrical equipment whichinclude multiple contacts or terminals has not been entirelysatisfactory. In certain equipment, such as integrated circuits, thereare generally a great number of contacts or terminals closely spacedwith respect to one another. In the testing of such circuits it isdesirable to temporarily connect or hook a test probe of the testequipment to one or more of the terminals in a quick and positivemanner. As the adjacent contacts are very closely spaced together, ithas been found to be extremely difficult to connect a test probe to asingle contact without simultaneously engaging an adjacent contact.Furthermore, such close spacing, although sufficient to admit some testprobes, greatly increases the probability of electrically contactingadjacent terminals accidentally which could result in a short circuit orhave other detrimental effects on the integrated circuit. For example,heretofore, a technician has been required to hold a test probe in onehand for testing the terminal of an integrated circuit while adjustingthe test instrument with the other hand. Periodically, the technicianmust turn his attention away from the integrated circuit device andmaintain the contact of the test probe on the terminal surface by feel,giving rise to probability of the test probe slipping from the intendedcontact thereby jeopardizing the integrated circuit because of faultyelectrical contact with the adjacent terminals or contacts.

Summary of the invention The present invention is an electricalconnector clip device for interconnection with an electrical componentand a piece of testing equipment and comprising a pair of oppositelydisposed finger members having opposed clamping jaws at one end mountedfor pivotal movement toward and away from one another, a plurality ofconductor elements carried by and extending lengthwise of each of thefinger memebrs for connection at their opposed ends to the terminals orcontacts of the component and to the piece of test equipment, andresilient means disposed in coacting engaegment between the fingermembers for resiliently urging the same toward one another at the endsadjacent said jaws.

This invention provides an improved construction for a connector clipdevice which is of simple, yet rugged construction to make quick andfacile electrical interconnection between the test equipment and thecomponent to be tested. This is a device which provides for the removalof the technicians hand from the test probe during connection of testapparatus to the circuit contacts where such connection is impossible ordangerous without the device; which electrically isolates contacts atthe integrated circuit; which substantially reduces the chance ofaccidentally electrically connecting to two or more contactssimultaneously, thus preventing short circuits or the like; whichmaintains proper orientation between the conductor elements and theterminals or contacts between the separate parts; which providespositive and accurate making and breaking of electrical connections witha wiping contact action and with minimum time and effort; and whichprovides for precise clamping engagement with positive manual control.

Brief description of the drawings FIG. 1 is a perspective view of theconnector clip device of the present invention shown for use with atypical electrical component;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation view of the device ofthe present invention with the finger members disposed generallyparallel to one another, but with conductor elements removed;

FIG. 3 is an end view of one of the identical finger members;

FIG. 4 is an end view opposite to that shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an elevation view showing the under surface of the device ofFIGS. 3 and 4, but with conductor elements removed;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional side elevation view of the device of thepresent invention with a typical electrical component clamped therein;and

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary end view taken along the line 88 ofFIG. 7.

Description of the preferred embodiments The novel test clip device ofthe present invention is illustrated in perspective generally at 10 inFIG. 1, and as shown, includes a pair of finger members 12 and 14, whichare pivotally connected to one another, such as at 16. The clip 10 maybe provided with a pair of jaws 24 and 26 adjacent one end thereof, anda resilient means 18 to urge the jaws 24 and 26 toward one another.Preferably, an abutment means 20 may be provided to limit the pivotalmovement of the fingers 12 and 14 toward one another to maintain thejaws 24 and 26 in a predetermined 26 are urged together by the resilientmeans 18, thereby clamping the component 30 securely between the jaws 24and 26. Preferably, a plurality of conducting elements 22 extendlongitudinally of the fingers 12 and 14 with one end of the elements 22adapted to engage the respective input/output leads 28 of a component 30for use with electrical systems, such as an integrated circuit board(FIG. 7) or the like, when the jaws 24 and 26 are clamped thereabout.The opposite ends of the conducting elements 22 preferably projectoutwardly from the opposite end of the finger members 12 and 14 toprovide exposed terminals which may be connected to the leads of varioustesting equipment or the like.

Each of the finger members 12 and 14 is preferably identical inconfiguration, therefore, only one finger member, such as 12 (FIG. 2),will be described in detail with all like parts and features on theother finger 14 being designated and referred to by a like numeral withthe suflix a added thereto.

Referring now to FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5, the finger member 12 comprises anelongated body 32 and a pair of leg members 34 and 36 which projectoutwardly therefrom. The body 32 may be made of any good electricalinsulating material, as for instance a polymeric material, such as nylonor Delrin (trademark) which is an acetal resin, or the like, and mayinclude an outer surface 38, an inner surface 40, a front surface 42, arear surface 44, and side surfaces 45 and 46 (FIGS. 2 and 3).Preferably, the front 42, rear 44 and side 45 and 46 surfaces aregenerally perpendicular to each other with each being generallyperpendicular to the inner and outer surfaces 40 and 38, respectively,to define a generally rectangular configuration, as shown in FIG. 5. Thelengthwise dimension between front surface 42 and the rear surface 44may be greater than the widthwise dimension between the side surfaces 45and 46 with both the length and width being substantially greater thanthe thickness between the outer surface 38 and the inner surface 40, togive the body 12 a generally flat and elongated appearance, asillustrated in FIG. 1. The upper surface 38 may be provided with aplurality of grooves 48 which are preferably equally spaced and V-shapedin configuration (FIGS. 3 and 4), and which may extend lengthwise alongthe surface 38 terminating on opposite sides of the body 12 by openingonto the front and rear surfaces 42 and 44, respectively. Thisarrangement provides an elfective gripping contact when handling theclip 10 The inner surface 40 is generally planar over a major portion ofits length and may include a plurality of elongated channels 49 (FIG.disposed adjacent one end thereof. Preferably, the channels 49 extendlengthwise inwardly from the front surface 42 and terminate in an endwall 50 (FIG. 2) which is preferably generally perpendicular to theinner surface 40. The channels 49 may be of any suitable configuration,but are preferably uniform in cross section, having a generally U-shapedconfiguration, as seen in end elevation of FIG. 3. The channels 49 aredefined by generally parallel side walls 51 and 53 and a generallysemi-circular inner wall 55 which merges smoothly with the side walls 51and 53. The end wall 50 may also be generally semi-circular inconfiguration (FIG. 5) so as to merge smoothly with the side walls 51and 53. The channels 49 may be equally spaced widthwise across the body32 to provide a plurality of interior dividing walls 56 therebetween andexterior walls 57 and 58 with the spacing therebetween coinciding withthe spacing of the contacts on the component 30 to be tested. Theexterior walls 57 and 58 may be slightly greater in thickness than theinterior walls 56 to provide additional structural strength. Inaddition, this walled arrangement provides a barrier-like constructionwhich separates and electrically isolates the channels 49 from oneanother.

For each channel there may be provided a linearly extending bore 59(FIGS. 2 and 7) which extends lengthwise of the body 32. Preferably, thebores 59 extend generally parallel to one another and commence at theend wall 50 and extend rearwardly opening onto the rear surface 44 andare adapted to receive conductor elements 22 therein. Preferably, thebores 59 are generally circular in cross section and may have atransverse diameter adjacent the inner wall 50 slightly less than thediameter adjacent the rear surface 44 thereby facilitating the insertionof conductor elements 22 therethrough. The bores 59 extend generallyparallel to the outer surface 38 and inner surface 40 and are preferablyspaced inwardly of the inner surface 40 so that the conductor elements22 will be disposed in the channels 49 in a manner so as to have theirlongitudinal central axes positioned generally equidistant between theside walls 51 and 53 of the respective channels 49.

The conductor elements 22 may be made of any suit able conductivematerial, such as Phosphor bronze, aluminum or the like, preferablyhaving spring qualities, and may comprise linear elongated wires ofuniform cross section having the same general external configuration asthe bores 59. The elements 22 may be plated, such as with gold or thelike, to enhance the contact effectiveness. The diameter of the wires 22may be less than the diameter of the bore 59 at the point adjacent therear surface 44, but preferably greater than the diameter of the bores59 adjacent the rear wall 50 of the channels 49 to insure that the wires22 will be held securely in place upon insertion into the bores 59. Itis to be understood that conductor elements may be mounted by any of anumber of methods without departing from the scope of the invention. Forexample, the elements may be inserted by a press-fit" into preformedbores, such as 59, or may be molded in situ, as desired.

As shown in FIG. 7, the wires 22 project away from the end wall 50 intothe channels 49 in preferably spacedapart relation to the inner wall 55to provide a cantilever like spring arrangement which will be describedmore fully hereinafter. The stiflness of the spring effect will dependupon the axial extent of the channels 49 which is preferably about 15times the diameter of the conductor elements 22. Preferably, the freeends of the conductor elements 22 adjacent the front surface 42 aredisposed generally in a common plane which extends perpendicularly tothe axes of the elements 22 and slightly inwardly of the surface 42.When not in use as in FIG. 1, the inner surfaces of the elements 22 suchas 100, are disposed in a common plane which extends parallel to theaxes of the elements 22 and which extend through the deepest portion,such as 66, of the recess defined by the cut-out portions 60. By thisarrangement, the free ends of the conductor elements are freely mountedfor resilient coacting conducting engagement with the associated leadsof an electrical component to be tested upon clamping action of thejawed finger members, as will hereinafter be more fully described. Theelements 22 are preferably of a length sufficient to have one endthereof disposed adjacent or slightly inwardly of the front surface 42so as to engage the contacts 79 and 80 of the input/output leads 28, andthe other end projecting outwardly beyond the rear surface 44. As thebores 59 are generally parallel to one another, the elements 22 will beevenly spaced from one another when the project outwardly beyond therear surface 44, as shown in FIG. 4.

Wire elements 22 of finger member 12 will be seen in FIG. 7 to projectoutwardly beyond the rear surface 44 to a further extent than thecorresponding elements 22a of finger member 14. By this arrangement,there may be provided a perpendicular connection to the elements 22 offinger member 12, thereby allowing a vertical connection with outinterference with the elements 22a of finger member 14, as desired.

Each of the interior walls 56 and exterior walls 57 and 58 may include acut-out portion 60 spaced just inwardly of the front surface 42 toprovide a plurality of downwardly extending tooth-like projections 61adjacent the front surface 42. The cut-out portions 60 may be ofidentical size and configuration which together define a generallycontinuous recess extending widthwise across the inner surface 40 of thebody 32.

As aforementioned, each finger member 12 and 14 includes a pair of legs34 and 36 which project outwardly from the inner surface 40. The legs 34and 36 are preferably identical in configuration, and therefore, onlyone of the legs, such as 34, will be described in detail, whereas thecorresponding parts of the other leg 36 will be given the same numericaldesignation with a suffix prime added thereto.

The leg 34 may be generally rectangular when viewed in endwise relation(FIG. 5) and may be defined by planar front surface 62, rear surface 63,and side surfaces 64 and 65, all of which are disposed generallyperpendicular with respect to one another and to the inner surface 40,with the transverse distance between the front surface 62 and rearsurface 63 being greater than the transverse distance between the sidesurfaces 64 and 65. The leg 34 is further defined by a generally planarouter end surface 67 (FIG. 2) which is preferably slightly inclinedoutwardly with respect to the inner surface 40 in a direction away fromthe front surface 62 terminating in a rounded shoulder portion 68 whichcurves generally rearwardly and upwardly so as to merge smoothly withthe rear surface 63. The point on a surface 67 normal to the axis x-x(FIG. 7) is the rearmost extremity of this surface and the forwardmostextremity of the rounded shoulder portion 68. The leg 34 may be providedwith cylindrical opening 70 defined by an inner wall 69 extendingcompletely through the leg and generally perpendicularly to the sidesurfaces 64 and 65 and being adapted to receive a connecting pin 16therein for holding the finger members 12 and 14 together, and aboutwhich each finger member may pivot with respect to one another.

Preferably, the pin 16 should be of sufiicient diameter such that thecentral longitudinal axis of the pin 16 will be substantiallycoincidental with the central longitudinal axis x--x of the opening 70.Preferably, the pin is positioned closer to the rear surface 63 than tothe front surface 62. The distance A (FIG. 7) between the centrallongitudinal axis xx of the opening 70 normal to the surface 40, isgreater than the distance B between the axis x-x normal to the surface67 to provide clearance between the leg 36 and the inner surface 40a ofthe finger member 14 (FIG. 7). By this arrangement, the rearmostextremity of the outer surface 67 (FIG. 7) of the leg 36 will beslightly spaced-apart from the surface 40a of the finger member 14thereby permitting movement of the finger member 12 either clockwise orcounterclockwise with respect to the finger member 14 without anyfrictional engagement between the surface 67 and the inner surface 40a.Preferably, the distance between the rearmost extremity of the surface67 and the surface 40a is less than the length of the surface 67 suchthat the surface 67 will abuttingly engage the surface 40a upon pivotalmovement of the finger member 12 counterclockwise about the pin 16 whenviewed in sidewise relation as shown in FIG. 2.

Referring again to FIG. 5, the legs 34 and 36 are positioned such thatthe opening 70 and 70' are axially aligned in widthwise direction acrossthe surface 40 having the axis xx generally perpendicular to theconductor element and spaced approximately equidistant between the frontsurface 42 and the rear surface 44. One of the legs, such as 36, of thefinger member 12 may be disposed more interiorly of a side surface, suchas 45, than the other leg 34 is disposed of surface 46, and preferablyhas a side surface 65' is disposed parallel to the conductor elements 22and generally equidistant between the side surfaces 45 and 46 of thebody 32. The legs 34 and 36 may be spaced-apart from one another suchthat the transverse widthwise distance between the surfaces 65' and 64is approximately equal to the width of the interior leg 36, but may beslightly wider than this in order to prevent binding as the legs 34 and36 move with respect to one another when the finger members 12 and 14are pivoted about the pin 16. When the identical finger member 14 isinverted for installation with the finger member 12, the side surface65a of the leg 36a, corresponding to the side surface 65' of the leg 36,will be disposed generally parallel to and adjacent the side surface 65'of the leg 36. As the interior legs 36 and 36a of the finger members 12and 14, respectively, are of equal width, and approximately equal inwidth to the distance between the surfaces 64 and 65 of the legs 34 and36, the surface 64a of the finger member 14 will be disposed generallyparallel to and adjacent the surface 64 of the finger member 12. By theforegoing arrangement, lateral shifting of the finger members isprevented and each of the wires 22 disposed in the body 32 will move andbe maintained in the same vertical plane as the corresponding wire, suchas 22a, disposed in the body 32a upon pivotal movement of the fingermembers 12 and 14.

As previously indicated, the finger members 12 and 14 are held togetherby the pin 16, which extends through the openings 70, 70', 70a and 70aof the legs 34, 36, 34a and 36a, respectively, when the finger members12 and 14 are connected together, as shown in FIG. 6, the diameter ofthe cylindrical opening 70 is preferably reduced adjacent the side walls65 and 65a by openings in the resilient material of finger members 32and 32a, such as at and 90a, which have a reduced transverse dimensionas compared to that of the bore 70. Preferably, the length of the pin 16is less than the distance between the inner edge surfaces 91 and 91a. Asthe diameter of the pin 16 is approximately equal to the diameter of thebore 70, when one end of the pin, such as at 92, is forced into theopening 70, the opening 90 will be deformed permitting the pin to passthrough the legs. When the opposite end 93 clears the inner edge surface91, the opening 90 will snap back thereby causing the pin 16 to beretained in engagement by and between the respective openings 90 and90a.

A resilient means 18 (FIG. 7) may be provided to urge the jaws 24 and 26together and impart a gripping and clamping capability thereto. Theresilient means 18 may be in the form of a helical spring 19 which maybe disposed intermediate the inner surfaces 40 and 40a of the fingermembers 12 and 14, respectively. Preferably, the spring 19 is disposedadjacent the end of the bodies 32 and 32a remote from the jaws 24 and26. The spring 19 may have its opposite ends disposed in recesses 75 and75a formed by annular projections 77 and 77a which project outwardlyaway from the surfaces 40 and 40a of the bodies 32 and 32a,respectively.

As shown in FIG. 7, the spring 19 serves to urge the finger member 12 topivot in a clockwise direction and the finger member 14 in acounterclockwise direction about the pin 16. As previously indicated,the pivotal movement of the finger member 12 will be limited when theouter surfaces 67 and 67 of the legs 34 and 36, respectively, abuttinglyengage the inner surface 40a of the finger member 14, and likewise, thecorresponding outer surface 67a and 67a of the legs 34a and 36a,respectively, will abuttingly engage the inner surface 40 of the fingermember 12 whereby the body 32 will be disposed at a predetermined anglewith respect to the body 32a and the spring 19 will be maintainedsecurely seated in the recesses 77 and 77a.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, when the spring 19 is fully compressed, thetips 81 and 81a of the teeth 61 and 61a are preferably spread apart adistance greater than the maximum transverse height of the component 30,but less than the maximum transverse distance between the opposedcontact surfaces 95 and 96 of the contacts 79 and 80, respectively,which enables the teeth 61 and 61a to be passed through the spaces 97between the respective contacts, such as 79, and through the spaces 98between the respective contacts 80. Such an arrangement will make itimpossible to position the teeth 61 and 61a in any position other thanbetween and adjacent of the contacts 79 and 80, as indicated.Additionally, limiting the opening of the jaws 24 and 26 will cause thewires 22 to slide over the contact surfaces 95 and 96 of the component30 in a wiping-like manner which will enhance the contact effectiveness.

Referring again to FIG. 8, the diameter of the wires 22 for a givenwidth of the channels 49 is preferably greater than the spacing betweena side wall, such as at 53 (FIG. '8), and the nearest part of a contact79, such as at 99, even when contact 79 is displaced furthest to theright in channel 49, to insure a positive electrical connection betweenthe respective wires 22 and the contact surfaces 95 and 96. Furthermore,it is preferred that the distance between the contact surfaces, such asat 95, and the deepest extent of the inner wall 55 is greater than thediameter of the wire 22 whereby the wire will be spaced apart from theinner wall 55 when the clip is clamped in position on the component 30,thereby maximizing the function of the various features describedherein.

When the clip is not in use, that is, in the unclamped position, thespring 19 will urge the finger members 12 and '14 apart causing them topivot about the pin 16 until the outer surfaces 67 and 67' of the legs34 and 36 abut the inner edge 40a of the finger member 14 while thecorresponding outer surfaces 67a and 67a of the legs 34a and 36a of thefinger member 14 simultaneously abut the inner surface 40 of the fingermember 12 thereby limiting the movement of the jaws 24 and 26 toward oneanother. When the ends of the bodies 32 and 32a remote from the jaws 24and 26 are urged together against the force of the spring 19, the jaws24 and 26 are spread apart permitting an electrical component of acircuit board, such as 30, to be disposed in the transversely extendingrecess formed by the cut-out portions 60 and 60a. As the force opposingthe spring 19 is released, the jaws 24 and 26 will move toward oneanother clamping the component within the recesses. When the width ofthe component is less than that of the cutout portions 60 and 60a, theteeth will overlap the front surface 31 of the component 30 making itditficult to pull the clip away from the component unless the jaws 24and 26 are again spread apart by depressing the spring 19. In theclamped position, the contacts 79 and 80, respectively, will be forcedinto the channels 49 (FIG. 8) with each of the wires 22 and 22a wipinglyengaging the contact surfaces 95 and 96 of the contacts 79 and 80,respectively, with the inherent resiliency of the cantilevered conductorelements 22 and 22a providing a spring-like effect to compressibly holdthe conductor elements 22 and 22a securely in engagement with thecontacts 79 and 80. The interior walls 56 will serve to provide abarrier between each of the respective adjacent contacts 79 or adjacentcontacts 80-, which are spaced laterally of the component so as toprevent lateral shifting of the clip 10 with respect to the component 30to be tested.

The terms and expressions which have been used are used as terms ofdescription and not of limitation and there is no intention in the useof such terms and expressions of excluding any equivalents of thefeatures shown or described or portions thereof and it is recognizedthat various modifications may be possible within the scope of theinvention claimed.

We claim:

1. A connector clip device for interconnection with the leads of amultiple terminal electrical and/or electronic component comprising:

a pair of oppositely disposed support members mounted for pivotalmovement with respect to one another each having a body including afront end and a rear end,

each of said support members carrying a plurality of laterally spaced,elongated conductor elements extending from the front end to the rearend of the respective body,

said support members pivotally connected to one another between saidfront and rear ends with at least one of said support members includinga plurality of elongated, laterally spaced channel portions disposedadjacent said front end and extending in a direction toward said rearend,

one end of each of said conductor elements of at least one of saidsupport members projecting in cantilevered relation forwardly from saidbody into a respective one of said channel portions and disposed forpivotal movement therein for resilient pressure engagement with a leadof said component,

the other end of said conductors projecting outwardly beyond the rearend of said body for free and unobstructed access thereof,

a jaw-like clamping means disposed adjacent the front ends of saidsupport members operably associated with said conductor elements forinterlocking engagement of said device with said component and resilientengagement of said cantilevered conductor elements with said leads, and

resilient means coacting with said support members for resilientlyurging said jaw-like clamping means toward one another for clampingengagement with said component.

2. A connector clip device in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

said jaw-like means includes a continuous recess in at least one of saidsupport members,

said recess extending transversely of said channel portions and spacedrearwardly from said front end and defining a tooth-like structure foroverlapping and interlocking engagement with said component in theclamped position of said device.

3. A connector clip device in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

said conductor elements are disposed in generally parallel and equallyspaced apart relation with respect to one another within said channelportions, and

said channel portions open onto said adjacent front end.

4. A connector clip device in accordance with claim 1, wherein saidchannel portions are defined by a plurality of laterally spacedbarrer-like walls adapted for electrically insulating said conductorelements from one another.

5. A connector clip device in accordance with claim 4, wherein saidrecess is defined by a plurality of generally aligned cut-out portionsformed in said barrier-like walls.

6. A connector clip device in accordance with claim 4, wherein:

said channel portions extend along the confronting inner surface of atleast one of said support members opening in a direction toward theother support member, and

said conductor elements extending into said recess for conductingengagement with the leads of said component in the clamped position ofsaid device.

7. A connector clip device in accordance with claim 6, wherein said onesupport member is substantially identical in configuration with saidother support member.

8. A connector clip device in accordance with claim 1, wherein saidsupport members include rib-like means on their exterior surface forgripping engagement thereof.

9. A connector clip device in accordance with claim 1, wherein saidconductor elements are disposed in shaped relationship with respect tothe confronting surfaces of said channel portions and adapted forresilient movement therein.

10. A connector clip device in accordance with claim 1, wherein theconductor elements carried by one of the said support members extendsoutwardly a greater distance as compared to the conductor elementscarried by the other of said support members.

11. A connector clip device in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

the pivotal connection between said support members comprises at leastone leg member extending from each of said support members, and

a pivot element connecting said leg members together for pivotalmovement with respect to one another.

12. A connector clip device in accordance with claim 11, wherein atleast one of said leg members includes an abutment means adapted forcoacting engagement with an associated one of said support members forlimiting clamping movement of said jaw-like means toward one another.

13. A connector clip device in accordance with claim 11, wherein saidpivot element is ofi-set laterally in a direction toward said resilientmeans.

14. A connector clip device in accordance with claim 11, wherein:

said leg members have generally aligned bores,

said pivot element disposed in said bores, and

the bore in one of said leg members having a deformable portion ofreduced transverse dimension adapted for deformation upon insertion ofsaid pivot element into said bore.

15. In a connector clip device for interconnection with the leads of amultiple terminal electrical and/or electronic component comprising:

a pair of oppositely disposed support members pivotally connected to oneanother and each having a body including a front end and a rear end,

each of said support members carrying a plurality of laterally spaced,elongated conductor elements extending from the front end to the rearend of the respective body,

jaw-like clamping means disposed adjacent the front ends of said supportmembers for interlocking engagement of said device with said component,

resilient means coacting with said support members for resilientlyurging said jaw-like clamping means toward one another for clampingengagement with said component,

said pivotal connection between said support members including at leastone leg member extending from the confronting inner surface of each ofsaid support members,

a pivotal element connecting said leg members together,

at least one of said leg members including an abutment means disposedfor coacting engagement with the confronting inner surface of the otherof said support member for limiting clamping movement of said jaw-likemeans toward one another.

16. A connector clip device in accordance with claim 15, wherein saidabutment means comprises an abutment surface disposed adjacent the outerfree end of said one leg member remote from said body.

17. A connector clip device in accordance with claim 16, wherein saidabutment surface extends forwardly in a direction away from said pivotalelement and disposed in inclined relation with respect to the innersurface of said body.

18. A connector clip device in accordance with claim 17, wherein saidresilient means is disposed on the side of said pivotal element remotefrom said abutment surface adapted to urge said abutment surface intoabutting engagement with the confronting inner surface of said othersupport member for limit movement of said jaw-like means toward oneanother and the rear ends of said support members apart from oneanother.

19. A connector clip device for interconnection with the leads of amultiple terminal electrical and/0r electronic component comprising:

a pair of oppositely disposed support members mounted for pivotalmovement with respect to one another, each having a body including afront end and a rear end,

means coacting with said support members for urging the front ends ofthe some toward one another for clamping engagement with said component,

the interior from end portion of each said support member defining aconfronting surface and lack of the latter being provided with a seriesof laterally spacedapart recesses with intervening electricallyinsulative walls,

plural conductors carried interiorly by each said support member andprojecting lengthwise therein in cantilever fashion into said recessesbelow said canfronting surfaces for paired wiping engagementrespectively with contacts of said component received in the recesseswhen the clip is thus clamped to the latter,

the width of each recess and each conductor in the some beingdimensionally related to the width of the component contact in the samerecess so that the maximum clearance between the component contact andeither wall bounding the recess is appreciably smaller than theconductor width to assure connection between respective conductors andcomponent contacts,

and means for directing the conductors to distal portions of the bodiesof said support members relative to the cantilever mountings thereof forexternal circuit connection.

20. A connector clip device in accordance with claim 19 wherein lengthsof the conductors extend outwardly from their respective cantileveredmounts toward the front ends of said bodies of said support members andare spaced out of engagement with the said bodies.

21. A connector clip device in accordance with claim 19 wherein saidpoints of engagement of the cohductors in each recess when engaged withthe component contacts are transversely spaced apart a greater distancethan the cantilever mountings of the conductors within the bodies of thesupport members, whereby said conductor lengths between the two aredistorted relatively outwardly for firm engagement with the contacts.

References Cited The following references, cited by the Examiner, are ofrecord in the patented file of this patent or the original OTHERREFERENCES Uberbacher, "Cammed Connector," IBM Tech. Disclosure, vol. 9,No. 3, August 1966, p. 254.

FRANCIS K. ZUGEL, Primary Examiner L. J. STAAB, Assistant Examiner U.S.Cl. X.R. 33917 CF, 200 P UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OFCORRECTION PATENT NO. I Re. 28,064

DATED I July 2, 1974 |NVENTOR( I John T. Venaleck and Robert T. Gabor Itis certified that error appears in the abovetdentified patent and thatsaid Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 2, line 5, "memebrs" has been changed to members.

Column 3, lines 39 and 44, "12" has been changed to 32-.

Column 4, line 61, "the" (first occurrence) has been changed to -they--.

Claim 4, line 2, "1" has been changed to 2-, and

line 3, "barrer-like" has been changed to barrierlike-.

Claim 9, line 2, "shaped" has been changed to -spaced-.

Claim 10, line 2, the other end of-- has been added after "wherein", andline 4, the other end ofhas been added after "to".

Claim 18, line 6, "limit" has been changed to -limiting--.

Claim 19, line 12, "lack" has been changed to each-.

Signed and Scaled this Tenth Day Of 0mm 197s [SEAL] Arrest:

Arresting Oflicer Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks

